Since they're selling for as little as $30 now, drone proponents are increasingly trying to spread the word on how to fly them safely.

"Would you put your hand in a weedwacker? I mean, I would never do that because obviously I'm going to end up with lacerations or worse because I was dumb," said Leon Stankowski, one of the speakers at the meeting.

"The same is true with spinning blades. Even though they're plastic, they can do damage at some speed," he warned.

The Federal Aviation Administration has stricter rules. Among them, pilots have to fly personal drones within their line of sight, no higher than 400 feet off the ground, and during daylight hours.

"I think it's a little bit of ignorance on their part, and they're afraid of it," said Keith Brown, who occasionally flies drones for work. "It boggles my mind that they would regulate something so innovative that people work so hard to enjoy."

But Phillips, the makerspace owner, thinks regulation will eventually fit innovation — and not the other way around. He's looking forward to the day when drones play an integral role in our lives, from guarding our homes to grabbing us a beer out of the fridge.

"I enjoy having the access to them. I would love a machine to help me and watch me and watch over me."